Why a woman can’t be a pastor or hold leading positions in a church

The woman’s place in a biblical church

Many evangelical churches today ignore one of the most important commandments God gave to the church – namely that a woman shouldn’t teach or hold leading positions in the church.

You might hear excuses like it was a different time then, or women didn’t have proper education back then. But these are all excuses to not follow God’s commandments, that He gave us because He loves us and knows the best for us.

I once attended a Pentecostal church, where several women held leading positions in the church. I told one member of the church my views, and he explained to me that the church’s policy was to throw out everyone that opposed female pastors.

Later I attended another church that was connected to the NAR movement. I met one of the pastors, and he confronted me on my views on female pastors and if women should submit to their husbands. I explained to him and showed him from the bible the truth, and he responded with calling me a “taliban”. He didn’t even try to defend his positions from the bible. I was naturally thrown out of the church a few days later.

When the evangelical churches are so hateful against people who follow the bible and recklessly throws out people who dare to challenge their heresy, you know something is very wrong in those churches.

So in this article, I will debunk their heresy once and for all, and prove from the scripture that a woman can’t be a pastor or a leader in a church.

So let’s dive right into it.

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What the bible teaches us

Now what does the bible tell us on this topic?

The Apostle Paul wrote the following in his first letter to Timothy:

“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” (1 Timothy 2:11-15)

Here, we see very clearly that a women should not teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

That is the complete opposite to what female pastors do.

And the bible also explains why; because the man was first created, and thereafter the woman. And that the woman (Eve) was deceived, whilst the man (Adam) was not.

This is something Christians can witness about if they ever have listened to a female pastor. Needless to say, you are very likely to hear many false teachings and heresies if you are unfortunate enough to visit a church with a female pastor or teacher.

But this is 100% natural and logical. Because God will not anoint someone who is actively rebelling against His loving commandments.

1Timothy isn’t the only place in the bible that mentions this. Let’s take a look at what God instructs the church in Corinth:

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (1Corinthians 14:34-35)

And in his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul lists the requirements God has set for someone to become a church leader:

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:5-9)

Here we see that one of the requirements to be a leader includes being the husband of one wife.

So after reading these passages from the bible, it should be impossible for anyone to defend female pastors, teachers or preachers.

As it’s completely against God’s word, and contrary to what God has created the woman for.

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It’s equal to the sin of witchcraft

You might ask why is this topic so important? Does it really matter that much if a woman holds a sermon for young Christians one rainy Thursday evening instead of her husband?

The answer is a resounding yes, it most certainly does. The reason being it’s rebellion against the order God has created for the family.

And rebellion isn’t something God takes lightly. The bible tells us “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1Samuel 15:23)

This is also one of the reasons why female pastors preach so many false teachings. If someone is living in a sin equal to witchcraft, one cannot expect God to bless and anoint their teaching.

In addition to this, since God hasn’t given women the gift of leadership, they will become blind leaders. And like Jesus mentions in the Gospel of Luke: “Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39)

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What is the woman’s place according to the bible?

Now you might wonder what is God’s orders for the family, and for women in particular.

Let’s look at what the bible tells us:

”Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” (Ephesians 5:22-26)

As we see from God’s infallible word, Christ is the head of the church, and the man the head of the wife.

And God’s commandment to his daughters is that they should submit to their husbands in every thing, in the same way they submit to Jesus.

This is such a fundamental part of Christianity and God’s orders, that in 1Peter chapter 3, God commands that also those with unbelieving husbands, should be in subjection to them.

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;” (1Peter 3:1)

This was also one of the first commandments God gave to us humans after the fall, which we can read about in Genesis:

“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” (Genesis 3:16)

And a standard that faithful women of God has followed in all times, also in the time of the Old Testament:

“Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” (1Peter 3:6)

Now you might ask:

Why does one has to submit to the other. Can’t both be equal?

In all situations in life, someone has to have the final word.

Whether you are on an airplane, in the army, in the government or in a business, someone has to have the final word. Otherwise things would go downhill very quickly and society would collapse.

Picture this: you are on a flight to your favourite holiday destination. You’re enjoying the picturesque view of the sun rising over the horizon from your left window, whilst listening to your favourite christian artist. You remove your headphones after a while, and to your amazement, you can hear over the intercom the pilot and co-pilot arguing how to fly the aircraft. Both sides refuse to let go of their opinions, and the pilot tries to steer the plane left, whilst the co-pilot tries to steer to the right. You might not have felt very safe if this happened.

In the same way, in a marriage, it is obvious that someone has to have the final word.

And God has instructed us in the bible, that the man should be that person, because the God has given the man the gift of leadership, not the woman.

However with this also comes great responsibility, as the man will the one held responsible for how he leads his family.

So knowing this, we clearly see why its so dangerous spiritually for a woman to be a pastor or teach men – so dangerous that it’s equal to the sin of witchcraft according to God’s holy word.

Because it breaks the basic principles God has created – that Christ is above the church, the man above the woman and the parents above the children.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever

So far I have gone through why a woman can’t be a pastor and that it’s a sin equal to witchcraft.

And I have also explained from the bible, that it’s contrary to what God has created the woman for, and that it’s against the orders God has established within the family structure.

Now it should be impossible for anyone to object to what the bible teaches, but unfortunately today there are many that "will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (2Tim 4:3).

These people try to find ways to interpret bible verses to fit their own opinions and ideology, but these verses they "wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2Pet 3:16)

Perhaps the main argument, and the most common reasoning I’ve heard modern churches use to defend their positions in allowing women to serve as leaders or pastors, is that it was a different time back then, and this commandment only applied to the early church. Now women are more educated and have more rights, and therefore can take the task of leading a church.

One pastor even told me this, when he confronted me on my stance on female pastors.

My response to him was to quote the bible:

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb 13:8)

It’s very important when discussing doctrine, that we are founded on the infallible word of God.

If we start applying teachings that aren’t founded in the bible, and invalidate other parts of the bible because they don’t fit a person’s worldview, we are preaching another gospel contrary to what the bible gave us.

And the bible firmly warns us to not preach another Gospel that’s not in the bible:

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:8-9)

So if someone really wants to do God’s will, and not their own, they will not invalidate parts of the bible because they think they know better than God how it should apply today.

And to add, the biblical principle behind why a woman shouldn’t teach, has been around since creation, as we can see from Genesis 3:16, and later on with Sarah the wife of Abraham.

Was it also the same times then at creation, around 4000 years before the New Testament was written? Perhaps education wasn’t something that even existed at that time...

So as I have proved, it’s impossible for anyone with a pure heart to use education and different times as an excuse to "transgress the commandment of God".

What women should do according to the bible

Now you might wonder what should women do according to the bible?

Let’s look at some instructions God has given us.

The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to Titus the following:

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-5)

Here we see that the older woman should teach the younger women, and guide them on how they should live a godly life. Remember God does not prohibit women from teaching other women, because that’s not against the orders he has created.

We also see examples of women that prophesied in the new testament:

“And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” (Acts 21:8-9)

And the call of sharing the gospel to all nations and people that Jesus gave us, does not exclude women:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

In Acts we can read about how Aquila, together with his wife Priscilla, evangelized and shared the gospel with Apollos before he got saved:

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” (Acts 18:24-26)

(Now some people have tried to take this verse and twist it to say something completely different, that a woman can be a teacher. However, as we see from the bible, Apollos wasn’t saved at this point as he only knew of the baptism of John, which you can read more about in Acts 19:1-6. So what Priscilla was doing was following the Lord’s commandment in preaching the gospel, not being a teacher or a pastor.)

As we see, God has a call for all women to serve him and bear much fruit. To preach the gospel to all nations, some to prophecy and some to teach other women.

However leading a church isn’t a task God has reserved for them, because He hasn’t given them the gift of leadership.

And lastly, we need to understand everything that God has given us in His holy word, is because He loves us and knows the best for us. There’s always a reason for it, even if we some people might not understand fully the logic behind every commandment He has given us. (Even though this one should be pretty clear for most people.)

The bible tells us “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1Cor 1:25)

God loves you and He has a call for your life.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

JESUS IS KING!